Published: Tuesday, August 20, 2013 at 2:41 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, August 20, 2013 at 2:41 p.m.

United Way of Marion County President Maureen Quinlan has resigned, and the agency’s board is scheduled to meet today to accept her resignation and appoint an interim president.

“I am just taking time now to look at some other opportunities I have and, perhaps, go back to direct service,” Quinlan said Tuesday about working for agencies that provide services to people in need of help.

“I miss that. I did, for many years, work at agencies. I worked at four-five agencies over my career. It’s more tangible results,” she said.

Quinlan, who has been the unofficial face of the United Way for the past seven years, left her position on Thursday.

She denied there were any sore feelings although, with the United Way’s new campaign kicking off on Sept. 13, her leaving seemed ill-timed.

“It’s never a good time to leave, of course,” Quinlan said. “The campaign plans are well on (their) way.”

She said that, years ago, there may have been a break after the campaign, but not anymore. After the campaign ends, the agency begins work on the allocation of funds to various agencies it helps support.

Quinlan said she would not leave Marion County.

“I am going to stay in Marion County, definitely, because this is our home. My daughter is in school here and we very much like it here,” Quinlan said. “I’ll probably spend some time with my mom. Then I will have to make some decisions.”

Tom Falanga, United Way of Marion County’s chairman, said Quinlan was leaving “for personal reasons.”

“She’s been good. She helped us with the 211 service we have. She’s done a lot of good things for us,” Falanga said. “The thing was for personal reasons. I respect her personal wishes for that.”

The 24-hour 211 program links people with questions or problems to organizations, agencies or programs to meet their needs.

He said Quinlan helped the agency with its focus areas of education, income and health, and she will be missed.

“United Way has been strong for 50 years and I see us continuing to be strong,” Falanga said.

He said there were no performance problems with Quinlan and he said he hoped her leaving would not hurt the upcoming fundraising campaign.

“That’s one of the reasons we are looking at doing an interim,” Falanga said. “This is a new year and we are thinking we are going to have a very successful year. We have a great team and a great staff and they are all doing very well.”

The United Way, which has funded 19 agencies for 23 separate programs for the past two years, set a fundraising goal of $2.3 million last year but fell short, raising slightly more than $1.9 million, the lowest amount in 15 years.

And that was a drop of $133,412, or 6 percent, from United Way’s 2011 fundraising campaign. Quinlan cut roughly $100,000 from the United Way budget in order to provide the promised funding for programs. She eliminated one position and let an employee go.

Quinlan began working for the agency just before the recession struck. At that time, the United Way of Marion County had 17 employees compared with the 10 it has today. Two of those positions are funded by outside grants.

The agency’s fundraising goal for 2013 has not yet been announced.

Judy Wilson, founder and chief executive officer of the Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Center, which receives United Way funding, said raising funds is difficult for agencies in this down economy. She said Quinlan brought many additional programs to the helping community, such as grant writing and human resources, as well as helping people with their taxes.

“These are additional programs, but they are sorely needed,” Wilson said.

As far as Quinlan’s resignation, Wilson said, “I had no idea this was going to happen. I don’t think anybody did. I think there’s going to be a lot of questions as to why she’s leaving.”

Roseann Fricks, executive director of the Early Leaning Coalition of Marion County, said she was “very surprised” when she learned that Quinlan resigned.

“She’s done a lot for our community through United Way, bringing a lot of programs to Marion County for residents. I was surprised to hear that,” Fricks said. “So many positive things — and I am sorry she, obviously, was put in a position that she had to resign for personal reasons.

“I am sorry to hear that. I know we will certainly miss her and wish her the best. We are fortunate to have United Way in the community and Maureen was definitely an asset,” Fricks said.

<p>United Way of Marion County President Maureen Quinlan has resigned, and the agency's board is scheduled to meet today to accept her resignation and appoint an interim president.</p><p>“I am just taking time now to look at some other opportunities I have and, perhaps, go back to direct service,” Quinlan said Tuesday about working for agencies that provide services to people in need of help.</p><p>“I miss that. I did, for many years, work at agencies. I worked at four-five agencies over my career. It's more tangible results,” she said.</p><p>Quinlan, who has been the unofficial face of the United Way for the past seven years, left her position on Thursday.</p><p>She denied there were any sore feelings although, with the United Way's new campaign kicking off on Sept. 13, her leaving seemed ill-timed.</p><p>“It's never a good time to leave, of course,” Quinlan said. “The campaign plans are well on (their) way.”</p><p>She said that, years ago, there may have been a break after the campaign, but not anymore. After the campaign ends, the agency begins work on the allocation of funds to various agencies it helps support.</p><p>Quinlan said she would not leave Marion County.</p><p>“I am going to stay in Marion County, definitely, because this is our home. My daughter is in school here and we very much like it here,” Quinlan said. “I'll probably spend some time with my mom. Then I will have to make some decisions.”</p><p>Tom Falanga, United Way of Marion County's chairman, said Quinlan was leaving “for personal reasons.”</p><p>“She's been good. She helped us with the 211 service we have. She's done a lot of good things for us,” Falanga said. “The thing was for personal reasons. I respect her personal wishes for that.”</p><p>The 24-hour 211 program links people with questions or problems to organizations, agencies or programs to meet their needs.</p><p>He said Quinlan helped the agency with its focus areas of education, income and health, and she will be missed.</p><p>“United Way has been strong for 50 years and I see us continuing to be strong,” Falanga said.</p><p>He said there were no performance problems with Quinlan and he said he hoped her leaving would not hurt the upcoming fundraising campaign.</p><p>“That's one of the reasons we are looking at doing an interim,” Falanga said. “This is a new year and we are thinking we are going to have a very successful year. We have a great team and a great staff and they are all doing very well.”</p><p>The United Way, which has funded 19 agencies for 23 separate programs for the past two years, set a fundraising goal of $2.3 million last year but fell short, raising slightly more than $1.9 million, the lowest amount in 15 years.</p><p>And that was a drop of $133,412, or 6 percent, from United Way's 2011 fundraising campaign. Quinlan cut roughly $100,000 from the United Way budget in order to provide the promised funding for programs. She eliminated one position and let an employee go.</p><p>Quinlan began working for the agency just before the recession struck. At that time, the United Way of Marion County had 17 employees compared with the 10 it has today. Two of those positions are funded by outside grants.</p><p>The agency's fundraising goal for 2013 has not yet been announced.</p><p>Judy Wilson, founder and chief executive officer of the Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Center, which receives United Way funding, said raising funds is difficult for agencies in this down economy. She said Quinlan brought many additional programs to the helping community, such as grant writing and human resources, as well as helping people with their taxes.</p><p>“These are additional programs, but they are sorely needed,” Wilson said.</p><p>As far as Quinlan's resignation, Wilson said, “I had no idea this was going to happen. I don't think anybody did. I think there's going to be a lot of questions as to why she's leaving.”</p><p>Roseann Fricks, executive director of the Early Leaning Coalition of Marion County, said she was “very surprised” when she learned that Quinlan resigned.</p><p>“She's done a lot for our community through United Way, bringing a lot of programs to Marion County for residents. I was surprised to hear that,” Fricks said. “So many positive things — and I am sorry she, obviously, was put in a position that she had to resign for personal reasons.</p><p>“I am sorry to hear that. I know we will certainly miss her and wish her the best. We are fortunate to have United Way in the community and Maureen was definitely an asset,” Fricks said.</p><p><i>Contact Susan Latham Carr at 867-4156 or susan.carr@starbanner.com.</i></p>